Foping

One of the areas with the highest density of wild giant pandas on the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains; look for signs of pandas at Panda Valley, Guanyin Mountain and the Foping reserve, where golden snub-nosed monkeys and takins share the habitat.

Foping County lies in northeastern Hanzhong, Shaanxi, deep on the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains. The county seat, Yuanjiazhuang, sits at about 900 m, and forest covers more than 90% of the county. One of the areas with the highest density of wild giant pandas in the Qinling, it is known as the "Home of Pandas", and golden snub-nosed monkeys, takins and crested ibises live here too. Main things to do: Foping Panda Valley, about 20 km north of town, lets you see Qinling giant pandas up close and wander along streamside trails; if you can, book an eco-tour of the Foping National Nature Reserve (Sanguanmiao and Liangfengya) and follow a guide in search of signs of wild pandas; heading north across the Qinling you can visit the ruins of Laoxiancheng, the old Foping Ting seat, while to the west lie the Changqing reserve and the Huayang ancient town area; or drive along the Jiaoxi River and National Highway 108 to see the Qinling's autumn colors. Best seasons: spring blossoms in Apr–May, cool summer escapes in Jul–Aug, and fall foliage in October; in winter, panda tracks are easier to spot in the reserve's snow. Getting there: Foping Station on the Xi'an–Chengdu high-speed railway is about 1 hour from Xi'an and about 40 minutes from Hanzhong, and the Xi'an–Hanzhong Expressway also passes through the county. Plan to stay 1–2 days. The reserve's core zone requires advance booking; check weather and road conditions before heading into the mountains, and never feed wild animals.

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